Devotional Thoughts: What we can learn from John the Baptist

Published: Friday, December 13, 2013 at 10:02 AM.

BIBLE VERSE: “This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” —- Matthew 3:3

Pierre Salinger was a native of San Francisco who at age 35 became the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary, having been appointed to that position by president-elect John F. Kennedy. Following President Kennedy’s assassination, he continued to serve President Lyndon Johnson in that same role and for 15 years was a European correspondent for ABC News.

Salinger enjoyed telling the story of a conversation he had with the president on one of their many plane rides together. Traveling on Air Force One, severe turbulence shook the plane, and Salinger briefly feared they might crash. When the aircraft righted itself, Salinger asked the president if he could imagine what the news story would have been if the plane had gone down.

“I can, Pierre,” said Kennedy. “You would have been on all the front pages. But in very small type.”

Small type isn’t appealing to many people. Politicians, sports personalities, business people, and even ministers of the Gospel often seem to prefer neon lights to small type. So many individuals are grasping for their proverbial “fifteen minutes of fame.”

All of us could learn from the testimony of John the Baptist. He was a great prophet called to deliver a radical message of repentance. However, John the Baptist lived a simple lifestyle and with striking humility saw himself as nothing more than a voice – “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

In those days, highways often were built at the command of the king. Adjustments and preparations were required in order to make them straight and level. Ancient kings expected the roads to be well prepared before they would travel them. In speaking of John the Baptist preparing the way, Luke adds these verses (not included by Matthew) from the prophecy of Isaiah, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of the God” (Luke 3:5-6).

BIBLE VERSE: “This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” —- Matthew 3:3

Pierre Salinger was a native of San Francisco who at age 35 became the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary, having been appointed to that position by president-elect John F. Kennedy. Following President Kennedy’s assassination, he continued to serve President Lyndon Johnson in that same role and for 15 years was a European correspondent for ABC News.

Salinger enjoyed telling the story of a conversation he had with the president on one of their many plane rides together. Traveling on Air Force One, severe turbulence shook the plane, and Salinger briefly feared they might crash. When the aircraft righted itself, Salinger asked the president if he could imagine what the news story would have been if the plane had gone down.

“I can, Pierre,” said Kennedy. “You would have been on all the front pages. But in very small type.”

Small type isn’t appealing to many people. Politicians, sports personalities, business people, and even ministers of the Gospel often seem to prefer neon lights to small type. So many individuals are grasping for their proverbial “fifteen minutes of fame.”

All of us could learn from the testimony of John the Baptist. He was a great prophet called to deliver a radical message of repentance. However, John the Baptist lived a simple lifestyle and with striking humility saw himself as nothing more than a voice – “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

In those days, highways often were built at the command of the king. Adjustments and preparations were required in order to make them straight and level. Ancient kings expected the roads to be well prepared before they would travel them. In speaking of John the Baptist preparing the way, Luke adds these verses (not included by Matthew) from the prophecy of Isaiah, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of the God” (Luke 3:5-6).

John the Baptist’s magnificent obsession was to prepare the way for the rule of God’s kingdom which was being ushered in by the coming of Jesus Christ, the King. What a difference it would make in our world if every follower of Christ shared that same passion.

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER:Lord, help us take the time necessary to prepare for the celebration of Christ’s coming so that all people will see your salvation.